Discharged out of Ellsworth AFB, Dec. 73. Joined MCPD June 74. Retired after 36+ years as Captain, Support Services Commander. Start Class next month, Professional Truck Driving. I did it in the military, I can do it as a civilian.
November 1, 2011, started driving semis for Holiday Express. Been to Dayton Ohio, West Springfield Mass, Edison N.J., Romeoville and Libertyville Ill, Burns Harbor In, Selby Del.. Drove by Dover AFB and Wright Patterson AFB. Had a short trip to Dover in 1970 to go aboard the new C5A Galixy. When I was in Viet Nam 70-71, I shipped a lot of material to Wright Patterson.
August 2015, stopped driving for Holiday Express and started driving for Ruan out of Clear Lake, Iowa. Haul an empty tanker to Malcom, Iowa and drop and hook for a full tanker (52,000 lbs liquid egg). I take that to Gaylord, Mn and agian drop and hook to an empty for the trip back to Clear Lake. About 10 hours driving time, 12 - 14 hour day. The good thing is that I only do in twice a week and I'm home everynight.
November 2016, Stopped driving semi when I fell out of a truck and injured my shoulder. Can't climb ladders. Currently working P/T for a local casino as a Surveillance Agent.
January 2021, stopped working for the Casino. Volunteered to drive the Veteran's Affairs van, taking vets to appointments to the Des Moines VA Hospital. Had to have a DOT physical and some medical things came up that I need to get squarded aways first.
Other Comments:
USAF
Lackland AFB Dec 69 - Feb 70
Travis AFB Feb 70 - Nov 70
Cam Rahn Bay AFB, RVN Nov 70 - Nov 71
Ellsworth Nov 71 - Dec 73 TDY Utapio AFB Thailand for 6 monhs in 73
Iowa Air National Guard, Ft. Dodge, Iowa Dec 73 - June 74
Iowa Army National Guard, 1133rd Trans Co, Feb 84 - Sept 90
US Army, Desert Storm 22nd Support Command Sept. 90 - June 91, stationed at numerous sites in Saudia Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahran.
Attended the FBI National Academy, Sept 98 - Dec 98, Class #195
1973-1973, KC-135 Stratotanker
From Year 1973
To Year 1973
Personal Memories
While assigned TDY to U-Tapio, I drove a Uke tractor towing B52s and KC135 tankers.
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KC-135 Stratotanker Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
The Boeing Company's model 367-80 was the basic design for the commercial 707 passenger plane as well as the KC-135A Stratotanker. In 1954 the Air Force purchased the first 29 of its future 732-plane fleet. The first aircraft flew in August 1956 and the initial production Stratotanker was delivered to Castle Air Force Base, Calif., in June 1957. The last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965.
Of the original KC-135A's, more than 415 have been modified with new CFM-56 engines produced by CFM-International. The re-engined tanker, designated either the KC-135R or KC-135T, can offload 50 percent more fuel, is 25 percent more fuel efficient, costs 25 percent less to operate and is 96 percent quieter than the KC-135A.
Specifications StatsCentral Model Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker Length 136.25 ft | 41.53 m Width 130.84 ft | 39.88 m Height 41.67 ft | 12.70 m Engine(s) 4 x CFM F108 turbofan engines generating 22,000lbs of thrust each. Empty Weight 106,307 lbs | 48,220 kg MTOW 322,503 lbs | 146,285 kg Max Speed 610 mph | 982 km/h | 530 kts Max Range 2,880 miles | 4,635 km Ceiling 41,719 ft | 12,716 m | 7.9 miles Climb Rate 1,290 ft/min (393.2 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Accommodations 3
